Professional Water Heater Replacement in Houston

Every water heater eventually wears out. Replacing yours before it fails helps you avoid cold showers, emergency service calls, and water damage. Water heater leaks are one of the most common causes of home water damage insurance claims.

Nick's Plumbing & Air Conditioning has provided water heater replacement in Houston since 1979. We remove and haul away your old heater, pull the permit, install your new tank or tankless unit to current code, and test everything before we leave.

When Do You Need a Water Heater Replacement?

Tank water heaters typically last 8 to 12 years. In Houston, minerals and corrosive water can start breaking down a tank around year 7. Watch for these signs:

• Age - Your heater is 10 years old or older. The manufacture date is on the label.
• Hot water runs out fast - Sediment has taken up space in the tank, or the heater is too small for your household
• Popping or banging - Heavy sediment buildup on the bottom of the tank
• Rusty hot water - The inside of the tank is corroding
• Water in the drain pan - Even a small leak from the tank means failure is close
• Frequent repairs - Repeated service calls on an aging heater

Tank or Tankless Replacement?

When you replace your water heater, you can choose a new tank or upgrade to tankless.

• Tank water heaters - Lower upfront cost and a quick, straightforward replacement. Learn more about gas and electric water heaters.
• Tankless water heaters - Endless hot water, up to 40% lower water heating energy use in some homes, and a lifespan of 20 years or more. Learn more about tankless water heaters.

Two Water Heaters in the Attic?

Many larger Houston homes have two tank water heaters in the attic. When both are near the end of their life, replacing them with a single high-capacity tankless unit often makes sense. You get endless hot water, free up attic space, and remove two tanks that could leak over your ceilings. In many homes, the energy savings help the tankless upgrade pay for itself in about 6 years.

Brands We Recommend

• Tank water heaters - Rheem, Rinnai, and Bradford White
• Tankless water heaters - Navien, Noritz, Rheem, and Rinnai

Our Water Heater Replacement Process

1. Recommend - We review your household, current heater, and location and recommend the right replacement
2. Permit - We pull the required City of Houston permit
3. Remove - We drain and disconnect your old heater and haul it away
4. Install and update to code - Replacement requires bringing the installation up to current code, including venting, gas connections, drain pans, relief valve discharge lines, and expansion tanks where required
5. Test and walk-through - We check for leaks, verify safe operation, and show you how your new heater works

Water Heater Replacement Cost in Houston

Water heater replacement at Nick's Plumbing typically costs $1,300-$3,600, including the new water heater. The price depends on the size and type of heater, gas or electric, the installation location, and the code updates required. Tankless upgrades start at about $4,000. Ask about financing with payments as low as $45 a month. We confirm the price before any work begins.

Watch: Water Heater Replacement in Houston

Our plumbing experts discuss when to replace a water heater and how to choose between tank and tankless.

Not sure your heater needs replacing? Our water heater repair team will give you an honest assessment. Once your new heater is in, keep it running longer with water heater maintenance.

Why Houston Homeowners Trust Nick's Plumbing

• Family owned since 1979 - More than 45 years serving Houston homes
• Licensed and insured - Texas Master Plumber License MPL# 38548
• Background-checked technicians - We email you the names and photos of the technicians coming to your home
• Upfront pricing - You approve the price before we start
• VIP members save - Priority scheduling and 10% off with our VIP maintenance plan

Serving The Heights, Montrose, Memorial, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, and surrounding Houston neighborhoods.

Frequently Asked Questions